"Another new twist on an old fave, Planet9 enlist the services of vocalist
extraodinaire Sheryl Lee Ralph and elevates "Oh Holy Night" to one special place.
From the very cool arrangement, horns thatll make you take notice and a vocal
arrangement that kills, youll want to add this to your holiday collection
immediately."

Planet9 puts a groove new sping on X-mas music. The vibe
is as refreshing and inviting as a warm crackling fire on a snowy winter's day.

Launch Radio
November 2003

The 9 Days Of Christmas was a delight to listen to.
I will have this on my stereo come Christmas season. But hey, why wait? This is a great album
to listen to anytime. The musicians in Planet9 have a lot of experience...and their talent shows
through on every song.

Bruce E Von Stierswww.BVSReviews.com
December 2003

If you are looking for an exciting new way to hear your
favorite Christmas songs then this disc is for you. Planet9 has found a way to liven up your tradition
on their takes of some traditional songs like "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen," "Good King Wenceslas,"
"We Three Kings," "What Child Is This" and more....It has big brass sound. Its hip and contemporary.
In fact it is one of the freshest approaches Ive heard to Christmas Jazz since the old
Pete Levin/Danny Gottlieb discs over ten years ago....The arrangements of this disc are so original
it makes you forget that you are listening to a Christmas CD. Good job.

Jeff Charneywww.contemporaryjazz.com
October 25, 2002

I happened to hear... - No, I cant think about
Christmas either but stick with me This is a promo preview copy, not for airplay and it contains songs that youd expect but not
done in a way youd expect. For example, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen starts out
with a wistful acoustic guitar  very Acoustic Alchemy (and therefore lovely)  and builds to a
latin/big band climax. The Indian percussion is a surprise on Good King Wenceslas 
how come it works so well? Crusaders-type vibes abound on Silent Night and the
guitar sounds like Larry Carlton on his Discovery album. I use a lot of comparisons, right?
In this case its to illustrate the skill of musicians that I have never heard of before.

Indeed, you could be listening to any of the top smooth jazz bands on O Come Emmanuel  the
guitar and sax both sound like big-league players. We Three Kings and
Away in a Manger are given a similarly inventive treatment.

Who are these talented guys? Why are there only six tracks? Will Santa bring me a copy of the
finished CD? Watch this space

Chris Mann
I Happened To Hear
www.smooth-jazz.de, August 2002

1st Review for the "9 Days of Christmas -
It's summertime. We have 25° Celsius and sunshine in Germany. More than 4 months to December. Drew
Bentley just sent me [a pre-release of] "The 9 Days of Christmas". This is the upcoming 2nd album [from]
the group Planet9. I met Drew, the [group's guitar player], in Fort Lauderdale (Florida) in January and
interviewed [him for online publication in] Germany.

Planet9 is an unusual jazz group, so you can await an unusual Christmas album. Although the album
contains Christmas [classics], Planet9 understands [how] to give these hymns a new turn. If you haven't had
the opportunity to attend one of their gigs, you can listen to the downloadable soundsample
"God Rest Ye" at www.smoothjazz.com.

God Rest Ye starts with Drew's contemplative acoustic guitar melody. Surprisingly the
song changes into a Latin-flavored jazzy jam. Good King W starts with a fresh tablas rhythm [which bridges] to the central theme.
Planet9 knows to produce a groovy tune out of an old dusty hymn.

Silent Night has a high recognition factor. [It may be that] some chinese rice workers
have never heard this melody, [but] the rest of the world knows it. The acoustic guitar is the best
instrument to express the lead theme. Together with the brass section, choir and Charlie DeChant's dreamy sax the tune obtains an
entertaining character. O Come Emmanuel starts as a [Mambo] with some Salsa flava. Astonishing transformation-work, a
small swing break in the middle of tune gives this tune the necessary condiment.

We Three Kings is without doubt a really popular Christmas song. All music guide lists
377 versions of this piece. Planet9 presents a dynamic propulsing rendition of this holiday classic.
Away In The Manger has [had many great interpretations by greats] like Nat King Cole.
Plan 9 are swinging terrificly in their Bossa style.

Still being gift wrapped [at the time of the interview] are: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear,
What Child Is This and The Christmas Sweet. This album isn't just a
Christmas album. If you just want something to get you in the right mood (the holiday mood), take it.
But this album is something for all seasons.

Hans Bernd-Hulsman
www.smooth-jazz.de
July 21, 2002

God Rest Ye
- This little number received over
950,000 downloads on SmoothJazz.com's website in a six week period preceding Christmas 2001.

Good King W - One reviewer said "The Indian percussion
is a surprise on Good King W - how come it works so well?" Another reviewer said "Planet9 knows to produce
a groovy tune out of an old dusty hymn".

Silent Night - We can't deny the "Barry White" factor
in this arrangement. One reviewer compared the track to something from the Crusaders (we'll take that comparison - thanks!), and
complimented Drew's Larry Carlton style acoustic guitar work.

Oh Come Emmanuel - OK, so it's a Mambo, but could you imagine
a more joyous way to reinvent this old hymn? Check out the swing section in the middle which a foreign
reviewer called "a necessary condiment..." We think we like that compliment...

We Three Kings - what do you get when you combine the feel
of "Everyone One Wants to Rule The World" with on old English holiday standard? You get a 6/8 Earth, Wind
and Fire-style groovin' good time!

Away In A Manger - Featuring an introduction on bass, this Bossa-style interpretation was cited by critics for its "inventive treatment".

What Child Is This - Drew's arrangement of this is
similar in spirit to last year's hit "God Rest Ye" but features an outstanding "Doc Severson"
style trumpet work throughout.

The Christmas Suite - featuring quotations from "Angels
We Have Heard on High", "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", and "Joy To The World", this suite also features the first
(that we know of) drum solo on a instrumental jazz Holiday release.

THE BONUS TRACKS

Fa La La (Deck The Halls) - It
starts with Manhattan Transfer style vocals, and breaks into a Doobie Brothers inspired romp through
this English Christmas classic.

Santa Sweet - what can we
say? The combination of the big band treatment of "Jolly Old St. Nicholas", and the boogie-woogie
adaptation of "Up On The Rooftop" (written by the same fellow in the 1840's - by the way...) just made
us smile. Check out Charlie DeChant's BariSax solo, and the plunger cornet solo.

Oh Holy Night - (featuring
guest vocalist Sheryl Lee Ralph) - Planet9's addition to the 2004 Holiday Season! Imagine the Beach
Boys decide to spend the holidays in Rio! Now throw in the Planet9 "twist". Friday Morning
Quarterback said "from the very cool arrangement, horns thatll make you
take notice and a vocal arrangement that kills...[Planet9] elevates "Oh Holy Night" to one special
place"